Imagine being lucky enough to beat the odds and win the lottery only to have your money swindled away by the person who is supposed to hand over your prize?
I can’t imagine what a horrible feeling that must be!
Thankfully, there is one less person out there who will be shattering people’s dreams now that police have arrested 42-year-old Crystelle Baton. Baton is accused of trying to steal a customer’s winning Florida Lottery ticket at the Fort Myers Winn-Dixie where she was working.
The Florida Lottery Commision was conducting a random undercover visit to the convenience store when they sent their agent into the store with a winning lottery ticket whose prize was worth $600.
Investigators told police that Baton told the man his ticket was worth $5 and pulled out a $5 bill from her own purse and handed it to the man.
Unfortunately, that day she allegedly tried to scam the wrong person. Police told ABC Action News that the Florida Lottery Commission conducts regular undercover visits to make sure retailers are in compliance with the law.
Baton was arrested and charged with Grand Theft. The winning ticket was reportedly found hidden in her notebook.
Winn-Dixie said they will be stepping up their efforts to protect customers.
“We are taking this matter very seriously as the trust and safety of our customers is our highest priority. The associate’s employment has been terminated,” a statement they released said.
The Florida Lottery’s website stresses the importance of signing your winning ticket.
“First and foremost, sign your ticket! You should always sign the back of your Lottery ticket as soon as you purchase it,” the website says. “This will help prevent someone else from claiming a prize on your Florida Lottery ticket if it is lost or stolen, or if someone tries to scratch out, white out or change your signature.
The Florida Lottery’s website also offered other tips on how to protect your winnings, such as keeping it in a safe place until you’re ready to redeem it.
Other lottery bureaus warn that you should never hand over your ticket to a clerk without knowing its worth and keeping a close eye on it when you do hand it over. They encourage you to use the ticket checker yourself when you can or ask for a print out receipt that includes the ticket number and winning amount.
Learn more about this lotto ticket scam below.
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